Client: Bury Metropolitan Borough Council 

Project: NightMix Economic Study

What were MAKE asked to do?

We were asked by Bury Council to provide one of our NightMix reports of the town’s evening and night-time economy. The objective was to understand the contribution of this sector to the borough’s wider economy, identify strengths and weaknesses of the after dark experience and inform the development of the town centre over the next decade.  

How did MAKE do it?

• We produced a profile of Bury’s evening and night-time economy using our own unique NightMix data. This segmented the city’s economy down into key after dark subsectors such as food, drink and entertainment. In turn, we broke these down further into subcategories of niche nightlife segments such as ‘traditional pub’, ‘style bar’, ‘alternative music’, ‘visual arts’ and ‘high arts’. We then measured these historically over a decade of performance. Did Bury have the kind of NightMix would we expect to see?

• We identified that while the town had seen overall stasis, its restaurant sector was starting to grow but was missing key brands, operational styles and there had been a decline in entertainment options, particularly for young people. This provided evidence that the town’s new masterplan should focus on the acquisition of a cinema and arts venue, bowling facility and at least one gym.

• We also made recommendations on future direction for marketing and branding the after dark experience. 

What happened next?

The council used our assessment to refine its masterplan for the town centre and to attract in the missing leisure options. It was subsequently awarded a Purple Flag for its efforts to diversify its evening and night-time economy. 

What unique value did MAKE bring to this project?

Our experience of engaging with a wide range of communities meant we could get behind why the affluent local Jewish community weren't using the town centre and what would make it a key destination for them.